Project Gutenberg on Nostr: #OTD in 1959. Venus occults the star Regulus. This rare event is used to determine ...
#OTD in 1959.
Venus occults the star Regulus. This rare event is used to determine the diameter of Venus and the structure of the Venusian atmosphere.
Occultations by Mercury and Venus are possible but rare, as are occultations by asteroids. The next will occur on October 1, 2044, also by Venus. Other planets will not occult Regulus over the next few millennia because of their node positions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulus
#astronomy
Venus occults the star Regulus. This rare event is used to determine the diameter of Venus and the structure of the Venusian atmosphere.
Occultations by Mercury and Venus are possible but rare, as are occultations by asteroids. The next will occur on October 1, 2044, also by Venus. Other planets will not occult Regulus over the next few millennia because of their node positions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulus
#astronomy